In the bustling, scenic world of Stardew Valley, there lurks an elusive and fiery creature that both fascinates and challenges the players: the Pepper Rex. Introduced in version 1.4, this beast poses a formidable threat and is a sought-after quarry for the ambitious adventurer, thanks to its valuable loot drops. Here’s a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about Pepper Rexes, from their habits and habitats to battle strategies and potential loot drops.
Pepper Rex: The Fiery Behemoth
Pepper Rexes are large, red dinosaurs that can be found in the Mines. They are most notorious for their fiery attacks, blasting fire from their mouths that can be devastating if not avoided. However, they are slow and can be easily sidestepped, giving a quick or strategic player a fighting chance.
Their base HP stands at 300, a base damage of 15, and they move at a speed of 2. Despite the fire belching, these fiery behemoths do not deal contact damage while breathing fire, giving players the chance to maneuver around them without getting burned. Their lethargic pace can be an advantage for players, especially those equipped with high damage output weapons like the Galaxy Sword.
Locating Pepper Rexes: Skull Cavern and Beyond
Pepper Rexes primarily dwell in the Skull Cavern, with their spawning floors after level 1 being entirely random. This can be quite frustrating for players seeking to complete the monster hunter challenge, which requires slaying a specific number of Pepper Rexes. However, there are strategies to help you in your search.
One strategy involves using the seed predictor tool on PC, which forecasts where Pepper Rexes are likely to spawn. This method, combined with stocking up on Jade, exchanging them for staircases at the desert trader shop on Sundays, and consuming luck-boosting food can help you encounter more Pepper Rexes.
Prehistoric floors in regular mines also host Pepper Rexes, albeit rarely. These infested floors are dominated by Pepper Rexes, Mutant Flies, and Iridium Bats. Also, these floors offer additional loot like Dinosaur Eggs and Fiddlehead Ferns for foraging, and the foliage may yield an Ancient Seed when cut down. To find these elusive floors, the strategy is the same as in the Skull Cavern: grind, consume luck-boosting food, and use staircases or bombs for fast navigation.
Slaying a Pepper Rex
The safest approach to slay a Pepper Rex is to continually attack from a diagonal position while avoiding its fireballs. This strategy is efficient because Pepper Rexes pause before launching another attack, allowing players a moment to reposition themselves or deliver a crucial hit.
While this may seem straightforward, players should be aware that Pepper Rexes can turn swiftly if a player moves too abruptly to its sides. Maintaining a diagonal position until it starts its attack, then swooping in from the side that’s not under fire, is a proven tactic. Players can use various weapons such as swords, bows, or magic, but the Galaxy Sword is the recommended weapon given its high damage output.
The Valuable Loot of Pepper Rex
Upon defeat, Pepper Rexes drop unique and valuable items. They will drop precisely one of the following: a Dinosaur Egg, Prehistoric Rib, Prehistoric Tibia, or a Prehistoric Vertebra. Each item’s drop chance is predetermined, but players wearing the Burglar’s Ring will receive two item drops instead of one.
These drops are not only valuable as collectibles but also serve multiple purposes in the game. Dinosaur Eggs, for example, can be donated to the museum, incubated into a dinosaur, or cooked into a fried egg.
The Pepper Rex is a dangerous but rewarding adversary. Remember, the best strategy to tackle these creatures is to grind, maintain a steady supply of luck-boosting food, use staircases and bombs for faster navigation, and use the Galaxy Sword to strike hard. Good luck, and happy hunting!
